Independence Day of the Philippines
Filipinos celebrate their independence as well as a national day on the 12th of June. This year the Philippines will celebrate its 123rd Independence day.
Geographical Location of the Philippines
The Republic of the Philippines enjoys the status of an archipelagic state in South East Asia. It lies in the Western Pacific Ocean, consisting of 7,640 islands and covering an area of 300,000 km2. These islands are categorized into three significant geographical divisions from north to south: Mindanao, Visayas, Luzon. Towards its west lies the South China Sea, to the east it is bound by the Philippine Sea and to the southwest, it is bordered by the Celebes Sea. The maritime borders it shares are with Taiwan in the north, Japan in the northeast, Palau to the east and southeast, Indonesia to the South, Brunei and Malaysia to the southwest, Vietnam to the west, and China in the northwest.
Climate
The climate of the Philippines is described as tropical and maritime. It is characterized by relatively high humidity, high temperature, and abundant rainfall. The climate and weather conditions are greatly influenced by typhoons. The main cause of the rainfall, cloudiness, and humidity are also typhoons. Usually, they originate from the region of the Marianas and Caroline Islands of the Pacific Ocean that has the same latitudinal location as Mindanao. Since Mindanao is spared due to its northwesterly direction, the southern Philippines is very ideal for agriculture and industrial development.
Population
The Philippines is the world’s twelfth most populous country with a population of approximately 109 million people. It serves the states of a multinational state that consists of diverse ethnicities and culture throughout its many islands. The capital of the country is Manila whereas the largest city is Quezon city, both lying in the urban area of Metro Manila.
Symbols
The National Flag
The national flag of the Philippines is horizontal and bicolor with equal bands of royal blue and crimson red along with a white equilateral triangle towards its hoist. There is a golden sun with eight primary rays at the center of the triangle, each ray represents a province. At each vertex of the triangle is a five pointed golden star each of which represents the three main island groups of the Philippines: Luzon, Mindanao and Visayas. The white triangle stands for liberty, equality and fraternity. A unique feature of this flag is its usage to indicate a state of war if it is displayed with the red side on top.
National Anthem: Lupang Hinirang
Bayang magiliw,
Perlas ng silanganan,
Alab ng puso
Sa dibdib mo’y buhay.
Lupang hinirang,
Dyan ka ng magiting,
Sa manlulupig
Di ka pasisiil.
Sa dagat bundok,
S simoy at sa langit mong bughaw,
May dilag ang tula
At awit sa paglayang minamahal
Ang kislap ng watawat mo’y
Tagumpay na nagniningning;
Ang bituin at araw niya,
Kailan pa ma’y di magdidilim.
Lupa ng araw, ng luwalhat’ti pagsinta,
Buhay ay langit sa piling mo;
Aming ligaya na ‘pag may mang-aapi,
Ang mamatay nang dahil sa ‘yo.
